When then-Sen. Barack
Obama said in 2007, "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value
terrorist targets [in Pakistan] and President [Pervez] Musharraf won't act, we
will," the right-wing media immediately freaked out,
accusing Obama of wanting to invade Pakistan. But they weren't the only
conservatives who insisted on getting Pakistan's permission before taking out Osama
bin Laden: so did then-President George W. Bush. Here's an exchange from a September 15,
2006, press conference:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Earlier this week,
you told a group of journalists that you thought the idea of sending Special Forces
to Pakistan to hunt down bin Laden was a strategy that would not work.

BUSH: Yes.

Q Now, recently, you've
also —

BUSH: Because, first of
all, Pakistan is a sovereign nation.

Q Well, recently, you've also described bin
Laden as a sort of modern day Hitler or Mussolini. And I'm wondering why, if
you can explain why you think it's a bad idea to send more resources to hunt
down bin Laden, wherever he is?

BUSH: We are, Richard. Thank you. Thanks for
asking the question. They were asking me about somebody's report, well, Special
Forces here — Pakistan — if he is in Pakistan, as this person thought he
might be, who is asking the question — Pakistan is a sovereign nation. In
order for us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we've got to
be invited by the government of Pakistan.